On-demand Economy Participants Typically Work 12 Hours a Week to Augment Household Income

Augmenting their household income is the primary reason independent workers participate in the on-demand economy.

New research of the on-demand economy shows that a typical on-demand worker spends 12 hours a week participating in their primary on-demand marketplace, from which they collect 22 percent of their household income. The research is from Intuit Inc. and Emergent Research. Steve King, a partner at Emergent Research and a regular contributor to SmallBusiness.com, helped lead the study. The new data is a preview of a comprehensive study—Dispatches from the New Economy: The On-Demand Workforce—thatwill be released in January 2016. The study will provide a detailed analysis of the demographics, motivations and challenges of workers pursuing on-demand jobs. Here are some highlights from the research findings.

On-demand work is primarily part-time

12 Hours | Average hours per week the person works via their primary partner company29% | Have a traditional full time job14% | Have a traditional part-time job (receive a W2)5% | A single on-demand platform is their sole income source

On-demand work is viewed as a way to earn more money

72% | Choose to participate in on-demand economy to augment income60% | Choose to participate in on-demand economy for flexibility

Most on-demand economy workers (70%) are satisfied with their work

54% | Highly satisfied with their on-demand economy work16% | Satisfied with their on-demand economy work22% | Dissatisfied with their on-demand economy work

Most plan to continue working via their on-demand economy partner in the year ahead

47% | Will definitely continue working with their on-demand economy partner over the next year37% | Will probably continue working with their on-demand economy partner over the next year